Worldview Travel Adds Offices in Santa Monica, Paso Robles, Beaumont

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Worldview Travel, a California-based agency specializing in innovative travel, cruises and tours for new and experienced travelers, announced today the acquisition of four Southern California offices to meet growing demand for travel agency services.
Ricci Zukerman, CEO, said her firm acquired two offices in Beaumont and one each in Santa Monica and Paso Robles based on the success of Worldview Travel in other markets and growing indicators that travel agencies are entering a new era of growth.

Travelers increasingly found themselves spending large amounts of time trying to find the best rate in an ocean of confusing information and unclear options

Santa Ana, Calif. (PRWEB)April 24, 2007

Worldview Travel, a California-based agency specializing in innovative travel, cruises and tours for new and experienced travelers, announced today the acquisition of four Southern California offices to meet growing demand for travel agency services.

Ricci Zukerman, CEO, said her firm acquired two offices in Beaumont and one each in Santa Monica and Paso Robles based on the success of Worldview Travel in other markets and growing indicators that travel agencies are entering a new era of growth.

"The indicators include both changing demographics, such as the boomer generation entering their prime years for high-end travel, and the return of clients disillusioned with the online booking experience," said Zukerman.."A lot of clients left travel agencies several years ago for online travel sites that promised a lot but did not deliver. Many travelers thought they would be saving time, energy and money booking everything themselves online but ended up doing none of the above due to the lack of personal service.

"Now we are seeing leisure travelers and corporate accounts returning in droves because a well-connected agency like Worldview can match or beat just about any rate on the internet and provide travelers with better experiences and none of the frustrations of self-directed trips with no support."

Recent eMarketer research indicates that online consumer travel growth is flattening. The industry grew at a 28% annual clip from 2002 to 2006, but is projected to slow to a 17% average annual growth rate up through 2010.

Zukerman says there is good reason for the projected downturn and the growth of Worldview Travel, which is projected to exceed 30 percent in 2007.

"Travelers increasingly found themselves spending large amounts of time trying to find the best rate in an ocean of confusing information and unclear options," said Zukerman. "Most travelers didn't have the training or knowledge of an experienced travel agent and would get stuck with non-refundable or non-changeable tickets. Corporate accounts suffered the most in these scenarios. For vacation travelers, many thought they were buying one travel package and would end up with something else entirely."

Perhaps most importantly, internet travel sites started out offering travelers low fares to gain market share, but then gradually increased their prices. Many sites now charge service fees, a questionable practice since there is often no observable personal service for the customer, says Zukerman.

Zukerman says the return to the travel agent for service started gaining momentum two years ago. As a result, she added Florida offices in Boca Raton and Clearwater.

Two recently acquired offices in Beaumont will be merged into one Beaumont Travel location to serve the growing nearby active senior communities. Avaunt Travel in Santa Monica will mainly serve corporate clients in the entertainment arena. The new Almond Travel office in Paso Robles will cater to an affluent region booming in new wineries.

Worldview Travel is contemplating other acquisitions in 2007, Zukerman said.

About Worldview Travel
Worldview Travel has been providing clients with innovative, life-changing travel experiences for over thirty years. The agency offers unparalleled expertise, service, and enthusiasm from some of the most experienced agents in the business. Agents are trained to specialize in particular destinations, activities or types of travel, ensuring that clients benefit from first-hand knowledge for any type of travel request. Worldview Travel's high percentage of foreign-born agents has been recognized by national travel publications as an advantage for travelers. As members of Virtuoso, an invitation-only organization for elite travel agencies, Worldview benefits from access to amenities, upgrades and savings not offered to the general public, plus access to on-site experts wherever Worldview Travel clients travel. At Worldview Travel, expertise, value, and integrity is more than just a slogan, it is our daily operating philosophy. Visit us online at http://www.worldviewtravel.com.